button with link to home page
button with link to regulations
button with link to public use
button with link to the little greenhouse project
button with link to wildlife and habitat management
button with link to mohave valley interagency fire station
button with link to species lists
button with link to frequently asked questions
button with link to refuge brochures
Contact Us | Site Map | Southwest Region 2 Refuges | National Wildlife Refuge System | USFWS National Site

Fishing

Changes to the Topock Marsh seasonal closure:
The closed portion of Topock Marsh will be closed to all entry from October 1 through the last day of the State quail season to decrease disturbance to wildlife. Closed Area signs mark the boundaries.

Sport fishing is permitted in all waters except those areas designated by regulatory signs or buoys as being closed.

There are many places to fish on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Abundant populations of catfish, striped bass, and largemouth bass are found on the Colorado River.

State and Federal fishing laws and regulations apply. Topock Marsh shorelines are considered part of the Colorado River special use permit areas. Arizona license holders do not need this stamp while fishing on the marsh; however, California fishermen must purchase a Colorado River special use stamp with their California fishing license for fishing marsh waters and shorelines.

Fishing Hot Spots
Levee Road
Many fisherman use the Levee Road access off of Barrackman Road and Arizona Highway 95. Levee Road follows the Colorado River to a turn around just before Topock Gorge Marina and the I-40 bridge. Fishing is popular near this turn around. Along the way there are numerous rock jetties, sandy beaches, and pullouts to fish from after a short walk.

Topock Marsh
Topock Marsh has modest amounts of bass, crappie, panfish, catfish, and carp. Catfish Paradise offers a universally accessible fishing pier. Three sites offer boat access to the marsh: North Dike, Fivemile Landing, and Catfish Paradise.

North Dike marks the northern boundary of the marsh where water diverted from the Colorado River enters the marsh. North Dike offers a boat launch as well as fishing directly from the dike.

Fivemile Landing has a boat launch with some fishing from its shorelines.

Catfish Paradise has a universally accessible fishing pier and boat launch with a non-water bathroom facility.

South Dike is about a one-quarter mile hike into a water control structure that controls the return flow of Topock Marsh water to the Colorado River. Fishermen can hike or bike into this area. A highway sign marks this area for parking.

New South Dike is a one-quarter mile hike to a bridge where water flow from the South Dike continues on to the Colorado River.

Mesquite Bay 1 and 2
Within Lake Havasu City limits on London Bridge Road are two fishing piers. Each bay is closed to all watercraft entry, has its own fishing pier and constructed underwater fish habitat areas, and is set aside for visitor use without watercraft disturbance.

Mesquite Bay 1 is universally accessible and has an improved paved parking area, non-water bathrooms, and an approximately 100-yard concrete pathway to the fishing pier. Two shade shelters and informational signs along the path describe native wildlife species and discuss environmental biodiversity.

Mesquite Bay 2 has a gravel parking lot with a gravel trail hike up a short slope and a downgrade for approximately 100 yards before getting to the fishing pier. Along the way you may stop at the informational shelter.

Boat Launches
There are free boat launches on Topock Marsh at North Dike, Fivemile Landing (on County Route 1) and Catfish Paradise (on Oatman Highway/Route 66).

Local boat launches that allow access to the Colorado River include the Topock Gorge Marina, Arizona (exit 1, I-40), Park Moabi (located 11 miles south of Needles, CA on I-40), and Havasu State Park at Windsor Beach (on London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City). There are many other private and public boat launches along the Colorado River.

No Wake zones exist in the harbor of Fivemile Landing on Topock Marsh and the entrance and harbor at Topock Marina.

Havasu Wilderness Area
(Marked by regulatory buoys and/or signs)
Within the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is the Havasu Wilderness Area, stretching for 15 miles along the Colorado River from the north buoy line at river mile marker 234 (at the Interstate 40 bridge) to the south buoy line at river mile marker 219 (near Castle Rock). The Refuge has established specific boating restrictions for this area.

No Wake Zones
All watercraft allowed into the backwaters off the Colorado River are restricted to wakeless speeds or otherwise will be posted as no watercraft entry. Please respect the regulatory buoys that are placed in these backwaters.

Air-thrust Boats
We prohibit the use of all air-thrust boats or air-cooled propulsion engines, including floating aircraft.

Topock Marsh
A small portion of Topock Marsh is closed to all entry annually from October 1 through February 4 to decrease disturbance to wildlife. Closed Area signs mark the boundaries.

A portion of the marsh is posted closed to all entry from April 1 to August 31 for Heron Nesting Habitat.

Air-thrust Boats
We prohibit the use of all air-thrust boats or air-cooled propulsion engines, including floating aircraft.